Olympics: Cycling

Crowd are booing.  Is something going on, Laura looking worried in her interview.

Phew, don't know what that was about but it seems to be ok.

Positions after three rounds:

1  Laura Trott GB 12 points
2  Sarah Hammer USA 12 points
3  Annette Edmondson AUS 17 points
4  Tara Whitten CAN 18 points
5  Jolien D'Hoore BEL 20 points
6  Malgorzata Wojtyra POL 24 points

Looking forward to tomorrow's events!

That was some great cycling by Laura Trott.

Crowd are booing.  Is something going on, Laura looking worried in her interview.

Got worried as well.

Got worried as well.

It all seems ok now, thankfully!

Laura Trott is amazing!  I've no idea how anybody can maintain such speed and stamina over the course of these six events in the omnium, but to be world champion in it and going for olympic gold at 20 years old is just incredible.

If she wins another gold I can see her being in the running for Sports Personality of the year, and she actually has a personality.

It's Dominance with a capital D. British cycling is even more impressive than it was in Beijing. The margins of victories over these other countries is almost ridiculous.

Laura Trott is amazing!  I've no idea how anybody can maintain such speed and stamina over the course of these six events in the omnium, but to be world champion in it and going for olympic gold at 20 years old is just incredible.

If she wins another gold I can see her being in the running for Sports Personality of the year, and she actually has a personality.

Totally. All these British cyclists have their own unique personality but come across as incredibly likeable and modest at the same time.

Will we ever see dominance by one country over a sport ever again?

You could argue for rowing, but the ratio of Gold:Silver:Bronze is much in favour of track cycling.

Will we ever see dominance by one country over a sport ever again?

You could argue for rowing, but the ratio of Gold:Silver:Bronze is much in favour of track cycling.

So much so, at this point in time apparently they would be 10th in the overall medal table!  That's pretty mindblowing!  I've not checked but the US swim team may challenge that, but then there are more events in swimming so it's not really a fair comparison.

It's Dominance with a capital D. British cycling is even more impressive than it was in Beijing. The margins of victories over these other countries is almost ridiculous.

Dont forget the girls were D/Q and would have probably won gold. 5 gold from 7 events.
Chris Hoy Vic Pendleton and Laura trott tomorrow happy days.
Also keep in mind the UCI/ Olympic authorites took away two of 3 of our gold medal events from China.They dont like it up em.

Dont forget the girls were D/Q and would have probably won gold. 5 gold from 7 events.
Chris Hoy Vic Pendleton and Laura trott tomorrow happy days.
Also keep in mind the UCI/ Olympic authorites took away two of 3 of our gold medal events from China.They dont like it up em.

Definitely. This has happened in a few Olympic sports. New regulations were put in place for table tennis such was the dominance of China in that sport. It's all to no use though because the omnium which has been brought in place of the three dropped events could well produce another British victory in the form of Laura Trott tomorrow. British Cycling has all bases covered it seems!

So much so, at this point in time apparently they would be 10th in the overall medal table!  That's pretty mindblowing!  I've not checked but the US swim team may challenge that, but then there are more events in swimming so it's not really a fair comparison.

That's why I can't take Michael Phelps as "the greatest Olympian of all time". They hand out medals like sweeties in that sport because there are so many disciplines. As well as that he is blessed with physical attributes that are of mega benefit to him (ie big feet!). I put the likes of Sir Steve Redgrave as being greater athletes. I think rowers are, and I say this in a nice way, freaks of nature! There is no other sport in the Olympics which puts the body through so much torture and pain for just (on most occasions) ONE medal. To put up with that across 5 Olympics and at the same time winning 5 gold medals is nothing short of remarkable.

I can't think of a nation who has dominated quite in the way Great Britain have in cycling. No other country is even near to getting a look in. The Brits seem to be breaking world record after world record with remarkable ease and in the process crushing the opposition. Chris Boardman said that the reasons for this success is simple - the British cyclists are just hitting their peak. They are probably the most scientific and precise team ever. David Brailsford and his team can spot a talent a mile off. They look at a cyclist and are experts at deciding which discipline would best suit them. What's perhaps most important though is their mental strength. British cycling have one man in this job to help coach their minds and that man is Dr Steve Peters. He's worked with British Cycling for 7 years now and his impact has not been overlooked. Chris Hoy said that without him "he wouldn't have won three gold medals in Beijing" and Victoria Pendleton went as far to say that he was "the most important person" in her career. Peters has also worked with many other sportsmen and women notably Ronnie O' Sullivan AND our very own Craig Bellamy! Bellamy enlisted the help of Peters last season soon after the death of Gary Speed.

If you have 25 minutes spare please watch this interview with Peters from June in an episode of HardTalk from BBC News. It's a really fascinating insight.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01k8439/HARDtalk_Dr._Steve_Peters_Psychiatrist_working_in_elite_sport/

I'll have a watch of that later on Frankly, you've made some really good points made as well.  Cheers mate!

Fantastic win for Jason Kenny who has clearly justified his selection; it didn't even go to a third sprint.

All the best to Laura Trott for tomorrow. Go girl!

Time and again, I keep thinking that British Cycling's bubble will burst and other nations will challenge us, but this Olympics has shown that we are still far ahead of the rest of the world and long may it continue. 

Quick round up of the morning's events:

Chris Hoy qualified comfortably for the Keirin semi-final.

Laura Trott finished second to Sarah Hammer in the 3km Individual Pursuit round of the omnium and is now in second place overall with 14 points to Hammer's 13.

Women's scratch race about to start in the women's omnium.  Good luck Laura!

That was a busy race!  Hammer finished in 2nd one place ahead of Laura.  Hammer leads by 2 points before the final event, the 500m TT.

Hammer had to do a lot of chasing in that though, hopefully it will have sapped some of her strength.

Vicky P goes through to the women's sprint final beating Germany's Kristina Vogel 2-0!

Mark Cavendish saying you can't win sprint races by trying to go for it 2 laps from the end! Hammer nearly did it. Think Trott would have won that had the Edmondson not come between her and Hammer.

Dominant again from Pendleton though!

Mark Cavendish saying you can't win sprint races by trying to go for it 2 laps from the end! Hammer nearly did it. Think Trott would have won that had the Edmondson not come between her and Hammer.

Dominant again from Pendleton though!

She had too much to do once Edmondson came into the picture.

Vicky P will face Anna Meares in the final!

Men's keirin up now.  First three into the final.  Come on Chris Hoy!

Come on Chris!!

But what is it with Spanish bikes at these Olympics?!

Crash at the start!  The Spanish rider touched wheels with Phillip and fell off.  The race will be restarted.  Officials checking the track for splinters with their hands.  Wouldn't fancy that as a job!

Here we go again.

Easy peasy for Chris!  He's looking strong!

Crash at the start!  The Spanish rider touched wheels with Phillip and fell off.  The race will be restarted.  Officials checking the track for splinters with their hands.  Wouldn't fancy that as a job!

Here we go again.

Nice win there for Sir Chris!

Can get dangerous those wooden tracks if they aren't kept up to standard. Jason Queally who won gold in Sydney nearly died when a sliver of wood entered into his chest after a fall!